Long-lived Radionuclides in the Surface Environment (LO-RISE)- Mechanistic Studies of Speciation, Environmental Transport and Transfer
Lead Research Organisation:
Scottish Association For Marine Science
Department Name: Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory
Abstract
See main proposal PI Francis Livens (Manchester)
Planned Impact
See main proposal PI Francis Livens (Manchester)
Publications
Muir GK
(2017)
Ecosystem uptake and transfer of Sellafield-derived radiocarbon (14C). Part 1. The Irish Sea.
in Marine pollution bulletin
Tierney K
(2018)
Modelling marine trophic transfer of radiocarbon (14C) from a nuclear facility
in Environmental Modelling & Software
Tierney KM
(2016)
Accumulation of Sellafield-derived radiocarbon ((14)C) in Irish Sea and West of Scotland intertidal shells and sediments.
in Journal of environmental radioactivity
Tierney KM
(2017)
Ecosystem uptake and transfer of Sellafield-derived radiocarbon (14C) part 2: The West of Scotland.
in Marine pollution bulletin
Tierney KM
(2017)
Nuclear reprocessing-related radiocarbon (14C) uptake into UK marine mammals.
in Marine pollution bulletin
| Description | The nuclear energy industry produces radioactive waste at various stages of the fuel cycle. In the United Kingdom, spent fuel is reprocessed at the Sellafield facility in Cumbria on the North West coast of England. Waste generated at the site comprises a wide range of radionuclides including radiocarbon (14C) which is disposed of in various forms including highly soluble inorganic carbon within the low level liquid radioactive effluent, via pipelines into the Irish Sea. This 14C is rapidly incorporated into the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) reservoir and marine calcifying organisms, e.g. molluscs, readily utilise DIC for shell formation. This study investigated a number of sites located in Irish Sea and West of Scotland intertidal zones. Results indicate 14C enrichment above ambient background levels in shell material at least as far as Port Appin, 265 km north of Sellafield. Of the commonly found species (blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) and common periwinkle (Littorina littorea)), mussels were found to be the most highly enriched in 14C due to the surface environment they inhabit and their feeding behaviour. Whole mussel shell activities appear to have been decreasing in response to reduced discharge activities since the early 2000s but in contrast, there is evidence of continuing enrichment of the carbonate sediment component due to in-situ shell erosion, as well as indications of particle transport of fine 14C-enriched material close to Sellafield. |
| Exploitation Route | Development of unique toolkits of foodweb and radiochemistry tracers for UK nuclear industry |
| Sectors | Energy,Environment |
| Description | Data has been used with partners e..g University of Manchester and have been referenced in the Herald on Sunday newspaper. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14157272.Scottish_shellfish_are_contaminated_by_radioactive_waste_from_Sellafield/ |
| First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
| Sector | Energy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Attended the WKIRISH meeting in Galway 30 January -1 February 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | At this ICES Working Group meeting we discussed the use of Ecosystem models for managing fisheries and the work that new PhD student (with funding for his PhD obtained from the Cullen Foundation) will do to address these questions in the Irish Sea. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |